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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



^ he pallad of tslje (Jood- ^liip, 

SAltAH- SAUDS 






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THE BALLAD 



OP THE 



GOOD SHIP, 



Sai^ah Sands, ^ 



COPVRIQHTED, 1884, BY L. N. TODRIQ. CV^" 




KU KFAl.O, N. Y. 
CARRELL & NISELL 



753^71 



INSCRIBED ro 



MI^S. ^ M^: W. B. 



A U KM I X 1 SCEXCE 

By L. N. T 



THE BALLAD OF THE 

Good Ship Sai^ah Sands. 



From the grand docks of old England, 
With sails like drifted snow, 

Freighted with wealth of nations, 
The great ships come and go. 

IL 

The finest of all the niercliaiit fleet, 
That sailed to tar-otf lands, 

The stanchest and the fleetest, 
Was the good Sliip Sarali Sands. 

in. 

Her captain was tlie l)]-av('st, 
Each act lie well could scan, 

True in justice as in ]iiei'cy, 
A right christian gentleman. 

IV. 

Every man on Imard the ship. 

Was faithful at his post. 
Proving the strength of union, 

Lik(^ the strenuili of a miuhtv host. 



V. 

For twenty years I luid been his mate, 
Four years on the Sarah Sands ; 

I had sailed with him to ice-bound se^, 
And to pleasjint tiopic lands. 

VI. 

Three times witliin llie twenty years, 

We heard the tV-aT-fuI cry, 
Above the winds and wild waves moan, 

Tlie shriek rose clear and hi^h, 

VII. 

Of poor wrecked men (»n the stormy se^, 

Ah ! who could tell their fear ; 
When, (juick was sent to each fainting lieart., 

Kind woi'ds, of iiojie and cheer. 

VIII. 

I neve]- shall, nor can foi-<iet, 

'Tis a scene which haunts nu' still, 

'^rhe burning of "Tiie Metral," 
Off the coast of fair Hiazil. 

IX. 

All day, the trade wind blowing. 

We sped before the ]>i-ee/.e, 
Would 1 could paint the glowing 

Of tlios(> pleasant tropic seas. 



X. 

All day, beyond hailing distance, 

A fair ship led the way, 
She looked like a spirit of light, 

As the twilight followiMl the day. 

XI. 

A mirage of resplendant beauty, 
With turret, tower and dome, 

Seemed in the far-off distance. 
Like the Saints' celestial home. 

XII. 

And when at last, the sun went down, 

In regal pomp and state. 
The sea and sky were glorious, 

Like a vision of heaven's gate. 

XIII. 

And one by one the stars came out. 
And took their place on high, 

They gleamed like countless diiimond.s, 
Afai' in amethyst sky. 

XIV. 

The watch on duty, paced tl)e deck. 
The sailors had gone to rest, 

And away in happy dream land, 

Found the friiMid tii(>v loved the best. 



XV. 

When sudden came the startling cr}'', 

" The ship a head's on fire ! " 
And tlie musky smoke rose upward, 

A black and trembling spire. 

XVI. 

Quick sped the dreadful words, 

" The ship a head's on fire ! " 
And like a brilliant meteor, 

The blaze rose high and higher. 

XVII. 

In haste our captain gave command, 

Call to the deck, all hands, 
We'll try the speed of our stanch ship. 

The speed of the Sarah Sands. 

XVIII. 

The boatswain's call was loud and clear, 

The men to their places sped, 
Then a hush came o'er each awe-struck soul, 

As in presence of the dead. 

XIX. 

The masts they bent beneath the sails, 

The sails so strong and white, 
Like gallant steed in hour of need. 

She sped for the deadly light. 



XX. 

The lurid glare of the fearful fire, 
Gleamed o'er the dread sea waves, 

Making grim shadows, weird and dark, 
Like unfathoma})le graves. 

XXL 

We saw forms dimly through the smoke. 

We knew their dread despair, 
Their stifled shrieks, and pninfnl moans. 

Came sobhing through the air. 

XXII. 

"Now quick, men quick, the life-l)oat, man, 
May you reach her in good time, 

Keep cool in all you have to do, 
Make fast eac;h liook and lino." 

XXIII. 

With hearty cheers ^^'e left our ship. 
We reached the smouldering deck, 

Through fire that fell like hail, we came, 
To save them from the wi'cck. 

XXIV. 

Pale faces gathered 'round us there, 
And thankful hearts gave praise, 

As one by one we saved them, 

From the stifiino- smoke and blaze. 



XXV, 

Not a ,'jingle soul was left, 

On the burning ship to die, 
While its fiery crimson streamers, 

Waved a farewell to the sky. 

XXVI. 

Then with a sudden trembling lurch, 

She sank beneath the waves, 
She sank with countless stores of wealth, 

To the sea's mysterious caves. 

XXVTI, 

But Ave did not grieve o'er the loss of gold, 
In the good ship Saiah Sands, 

We only thought of tlie lives Ave'd saved, 
So dear in many lands, 
xxviii. 

Oh ! fearless iieaHs and hands so strong, 
That worked with might and Avill, 

Oh ! noble sailors, cAery one, 
I hear your voices still. 

XXIX. 

I sit with friends this pleasant eve, 

We talk about the sea, 
Forgotten are the long years past, 

And you all come back to me. 



XXX. 

■Come back to nie, so blithe and gay, 
Looking so strong and brave, 

Just as you looked on that fair night. 
When your best yon freely gave. 

XXXI. 

I wonder where your lionie is now, 
And where you rest to night, 

Have you left this world of shadows, 
Have you reached the world of light ? 

XXXII. 

Whatever has befallen you, 

Wherever you may be, 
bailing on far-off oceans, 

Or on an inland sea, 

XXXIII. 

I pray that God will keep you. 
Till the last dread storm is o'er, 

Till you reach through Christ, the haven, 
Where storms will come no more. 



THE SAILOR'S SONG. 



" Ship ahoy ! Ship ahoy ! " 

By wild tempest tossed ; 
" Port your helm ! Port your helm ! 

Or all mav he lost ! " 



II. 



There are breakers before you, 
You may soon be aground, 

Seek safety, sailor, 
While it may be found. 



III. 



Choose Christ for your captain. 
Let him be your guide, 

Then o'er the deep waters, 
In safety you'll ride. 



ly 



Write your log-])ook out clearly, 
Then you'll haye naught to fear, 

From rocks and from shoals, 
You will always steer clear. 



See yonder brigiit beacon, 
Through mist thin and grav, 

"Keep well to the starboard, 
Then speed on youi- way." 



VI. 



Speed on, speed on, 

Your course is now clear, 
Though storms should betide, 

You'll have nothing to fear. 



VII. 



From heaven's lair haven, 
The glad words shall ring, 

" Ship a hoy ! welcome ! welcome ! " 
The freight that vou bring-. 



L. N. T 



i 



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